Winemaker Notes
Elegant aromas of honeysuckle, brioche, sea spray, and botanicals are just a few of the notes hit by the 2021 Theresa. Notes of Asian pear, toasted Marcona almond, lemon zest, and fennel are seduced by the concentrated midpalate and precise acidity which bring this beautiful white wine to a stunning crescendo.
Blend: 35% Roussanne, 30% Grenache Blanc, 20% Marsanne, 5% Picpoul Blanc, 5% Vermentino, 5% Clairette Blanche
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
I was able to taste two whites from Denner. Starting with their 2021 Theresa, it's based on 35% Roussanne, 30% Grenache Blanc, 20% Marsanne, and equal doses of Picpoul Blanc, Vermentino, and Clairette Blanche and comes all from their estate Denner Vineyard. Aged 16 months, it has a bright, crisp, medium-bodied profile of crushed citrus, lime zest, chalky minerality, and hints of sappy herbs. Balanced and nicely concentrated, with outstanding length, this refreshing and impeccably made white is well worth seeking out.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Theresa is a vibrant blend of 35% Roussanne, 30% Grenache Blanc, 20% Marsanne, 5% Picpoul, 5% Vermentino and 5% Clairette Blanche. It's scented of yellow apples, poached pears, beeswax and freshly baked bread with nutty undertones. The medium-bodied palate combines expansive, savory flavors with a focused spine of acidity, and it has a long, gently textural finish. It drinks well on its own and will pair widely at the table.
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Wine Spectator
Succulent and expressive, yet impeccably dry, this blend abounds with nectarine, lemon zest and honeysuckle accents that glide on the polished finish. Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Vermentino, Clairette Blanche and Picpoul Blanc.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
Paso Robles has made a name for itself as a source of supple, powerful, fruit-driven Central Coast wines. But with eleven smaller sub-AVAs, there is actually quite a bit of diversity to be found in this inland portion of California’s Central Coast.
Just east over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the chilly Pacific Ocean, lie the coolest in the region: Adelaida, Templeton Gap and (Paso Robles) Willow Creek Districts, as well as York Mountain AVA and Santa Margarita Ranch. These all experience more ocean fog, wind and precipitation compared to the rest of the Paso sub-appellations. The San Miguel, (Paso Robles) Estrella, (Paso Robles) Geneso, (Paso Robles) Highlands, El Pomar and Creston Districts, along with San Juan Creek, are the hotter, more western appellations of the greater Paso Robles AVA.
This is mostly red wine country, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel standing out as the star performers. Other popular varieties include Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache and Rhône blends, both red and white. There is a fairly uniform tendency here towards wines that are unapologetically bold and opulently fruit-driven, albeit with a surprising amount of acidity thanks to the region’s chilly nighttime temperatures.